Obituary for Wilbur D. Koch
Wilbur D. Koch Ute, IA - Wilbur D. Koch, 84, of Ute, Iowa passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 7, 2013 at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa. Services will be Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 303 East 4th Street, Ute, Iowa with Pastor Marcus Manley officiating. Burial will be in St. Clair Cemetery with military graveside honors provided by the American Legion Aaby Post #442 and the V.F.W. Post #5605 of Ute. Visitation will be Friday after 4:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home, 501 South Day Avenue, Ute, Iowa. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.armstrongfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be directed in Wilbur's name to the Veteran's Memorial Museum, P.O. Box 418, Onawa, Iowa 51040. Wilbur Dwayne Koch was born October 6, 1928, at Sutherland, Iowa, one of four children born to Raymond and Nora (Thiessen) Koch. As a child, he moved with his family to Gaza, Iowa where he grew up and attended school. He graduated from Gaza High School with the class of 1947. After graduation, Wilbur being the athlete he had become, played semi pro baseball for a time. Soon he became employed with the Illinois Central Railroad as a telegrapher, sending morse code directing various railroad operations, a skill he was able to quote throughout his life. Wilbur joined the United States Marine Corps September 20, 1951 where he became an instructor in telegraphy stationed state side. He was honorably discharged September 19, 1953 and returned to his career with the railroad. Wilbur was united in marriage to Lillian Schwebach at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple had two sons. After multiple location changes with the railroad, the family lived primarily in Cleghorn, Iowa and it was there, after 25 years that Wilbur retired from his first career. In 1968, Wilbur, Lil, and family moved to Charter Oak, Iowa where Wilbur started his short stints in in sales with New York Life and the Sioux City Journal. In 1974, Wilbur became employed as study hall supervisor for the Charter Oak - Ute Community School. During his tenure as study hall monitor, Wilbur immortalized the phrase, "Knock it off, a little of that goes a long ways!", which became well known to the graduating classes of 1974 through 1976. After school hall monitor, Wilbur and Lillian both took on employment with the Ute Elementary School as custodians, Wilbur for 18 years and Lillian for 21 years before again retiring. The couple moved to Ute where they were residing at the time of Wilbur's passing. As a retired veteran and always a Marine, Wilbur dedicated a enormous focus in his life on veteran's causes. He was a 59 year member of the American Legion Aaby Post #442 of Ute, a member of the D.E.C. Committee for the 9th District, served as the Monona County Adjunct for the American Legion and County Chair for the Monona County Memorial Veteran's Museum, was past District Commander for the 9th District, and was a past State Vice Commander. He was also a member of the Monona County Planning and Zoning Commission. As a devote Christian, Wilbur was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ute. Wilbur loved his sports and he loved his family. For him, the two were inseparable! Wilbur was an "off the charts" avid sports enthusiast, loved his Cyclones and was amazing at sports trivia. For 26 years in a row, he and his son, Jeff, attended every Big Eight/Big Twelve Tournament from the opening game to its completion no matter where the games were held. After his son, Randy played football at Iowa Sate University, Wilbur embraced being a Cyclone and was a 20 year plus season ticket holder for football and basketball which has now become another family tradition. Survivors left to cherish their memories of Wilbur include Lillian, his wife of 55 years; two sons, Randall Kent Koch and his wife, Patty of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Jeffery Dwayne Koch and his special friend, Kris Flewelling of LeMars, Iowa; four grandchildren, Ashley Klocke and her husband Matt of Dedham, Iowa, Christopher Koch and his wife Kayla of Ireton, Iowa, William Randall Koch of Denver, Colorado, and Evan Tyler Koch of Grand Rapids, Michigan; four great grandchildren, Hailey and Mia Fiel and Noah and Carson Koch; one sister, Dorothy Thiessen of Hawthorne, California; and many nieces and nephews and numerous friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James and Robert Koch; one sister, Norma Hattermann; a niece, Malinda Koch; and a brother-in-law, George Thiessen.
Service:
Saturday, April 13, 2013 10:30 a.m.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church 303 East 4th Street Ute, IA 51060
Visitation:
Friday, April 12, 2013 after 4:00 p.m. The family present from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 501 South Day Ave. Ute, IA 51060
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Service:
Saturday, April 13, 2013 10:30 a.m.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church 303 East 4th Street Ute, IA 51060
Visitation:
Friday, April 12, 2013 after 4:00 p.m. The family present from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Armstrong Funeral Home 501 South Day Ave. Ute, IA 51060
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